But with Fellini as the model, I’ll willingly overlook the subject matter. Though I’m no fan of musicals, I’m intrigued by early reviews. And with Marshall’s directing propelling Catherine Zeta-Jones to an Oscar in 2002 for Chicago, he’s proven himself to be somewhat of a miracle worker.

Marshall might be just the miracle Kate Hudson needs after the fiasco that was Bride Wars. Early reviews of Nine are mixed although the movie’s performances have already snagged 3 Golden Globes nominations for Best Actor, Best Actress, and best Supporting Actress.

Up in the Air is another film getting cheer this holiday season. The movie follows a middle-aged bachelor (surprise, surprise — it’s the go to role for George Clooney) who marinates in the perks of his job as disemployer until he meets his match in the shape of an ambitious female comer, played by Anna Kendrick.

Director Jason Reitman’s earlier works (Juno, Thank You For Smoking) have been critical darlings and his latest offering seems in line for similar love. Part of the buzz is based on cultural zeitgeist: the movie explores the country’s loss of soul and its (consequent?) financial implosion and loss of jobs.

“This funny and smart and bitter and gently shocking film so perfectly encapulates the self-delusion we’ve subjected ourselves to through the 2000s,” coos FlickFilosopher, “and the quiet desperation we’ve lived with while living with that self-delusion.’’

Reitman even went so far as to hire real women and men recently laid off from jobs to lend authenticity to the firing scenes. Both preview audiences and critics seem to be enjoying it.

Writer-Director Nancy Meyers’ women (The Holiday, Something’s Gotta Give) stand out among clichéd rom-coms. (I’m not saying which way though!) In It’s Complicated, Meyers turns the archetypical ex-wife into the “other woman” now sleeping with her remarried exhusband. So far the movie’s gotten tepid reviews.

Also opening in the same vein but for male audiences is Sherlock Holmes(PG-13), director Guy Ritchie’s most commercial film to-date. Robert Downey Jr. is reported to convincingly deliver his irrepressible charm to the role as the relentless British detective.

While rated PG-13, unlike Ritchie’s earlier and more adult-themed projects, this flick is expected to bring in the bank with excitement, explosions, and Downey’s uncanny acting chops as lure.

Enjoy opening today’s presents.

Calhoun Kersten is a Cincinnati, Ohio native who now calls Chicago home. He is a senior in the film program at Columbia College Chicago.